Green Bags

Our experts offer lunchtime presentations to help you and your coworkers become better stewards of our natural legacy.

Have a Green Team, CSR group, or just want to introduce your coworkers to a new topic? We can help!

For a customized session or to sign up, contact Meghan or call 503-223-9015. Presentations are one hour, unless specified.

EarthShare Oregon Business Partners have access to these sessions free of charge. If your workplace is not already an EarthShare partner, the cost for these sessions can be negotiated.

The Basics of Going Solar

Learn why solar is a smart choice for Oregon homeowners. Solar Oregon will show how well solar works in Oregon's climate, identify available solar technologies and financial incentives, and discuss how to go about choosing a contractor. Participants will come away with basic knowledge about solar energy systems and will be prepared to do more focused research on their own, or start working with a contractor right away.

The Big Picture of the Recycling Process

Have you ever wondered what happens after recycling your common household materials? Let a representative from Recycling Advocates guide you through the process, from collection, processing and end-use of household recyclable materials. You can also request discussion on the lifecycle of a material important to your workplace.

Renewable Energy at Work in the Northwest

Where does your electricity come from, and what are the problems with our current energy mix? Wind, solar and geothermal power are abundant natural resources in the Northwest, benefiting our environment and local economies. A representative from Renewable Northwest will outline current trends and projects in underway in Oregon and the region. There will also be discussion on how your energy purchasing decisions can have a positive environmental impact.

Working for a Cooler Climate

Many people wonder how they can help solve global warming. This presentation by Oregon Environmental Council focuses on four paths for personal action: at home, when purchasing, on the go, and at work. It also alerts the audience to ways to influence climate policy at the local, state and federal level.

Composting at Home

The potential for a healthy garden is already in your yard and is free – you just have to compost what’s already there! Recycling Advocates’ composting guru will teach tried-and-true methods for setting up a home compost pile, answer questions about what you shouldn’t compost, and help you stick with it!

Turn Your Backyard Into a Habitat

The Backyard Habitat Certification Program provides assistance and incentives for Portland and Lake Oswego to restore native wildlife habitat in their backyards. Staff from Audubon Society of Portland can show you how to get started in four steps: remove aggressive weeds, naturescape with native plants, manage stormwater and be a friend to wildlife.

Vote With Your Fork!

A growing number of Northwesterners care about how and where their food grows. This presentation explores the effect our food choices have on the local economy, the preservation of farmland, rural communities, our health, and the environment. With enough interest, Oregon Environmental Council can connect your workplace with a local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm for weekly harvest boxes.

Tips for Exploring the Gorge

Learn the best ways to explore our nearby National Scenic Area. Learn where to go hiking and what’s happening in the Gorge. You’ll enjoy this beautiful treasure even more when you know some new places to explore, and how the Gorge is being preserved for all of us and for future generations.

Wilderness 101

Wilderness is the gold standard for protecting our public lands - it carries with it stronger protections than national forest, national monument, or even national park! Wilderness areas provide critical wildlife habitat, clean drinking water, and world-class recreation opportunities. This presentation touches on the values of why Wilderness matters, Oregon Wild's current efforts to protect some of Oregon's most cherished gems, and how you can get involved.

Greenbelts in Your Community

A representative from the Greenbelt Land Trust will give a slide show and talk designing and conserving a “greenbelt” system of lands in a community. This “how-to” presentation will show that it is possible through a dedicated effort and citizen involvement to conserve greenspaces that are critical to the “sense of place” for your community.

Gray Wolf Recovery in Oregon

In 1999, a wolf swam across the Snake River from Idaho, shook himself dry, and became the first confirmed wolf in the Oregon in over 50 years. Since then, gray wolves have slowly begun to return to our state, although the road to recovery has been challenging. Learn the history of wolves in Oregon, challenges facing wolf recovery, and Oregon Wild's efforts to return a strong wolf population to our state.

How to Commute by Bike

This workshop teaches first-timers what they need to know to be safe, comfortable, and relaxed as bike commuters. A Bicycle Transportation Alliance representative will cover such topics as what to wear, what to ride, how to combine bikes with transit, what the laws and important safety precautions are, and how to look professional when you arrive. The presentation includes written materials, free maps, and individual route-planning assistance for all participants.

Go Canoe & Kayak Camping

Your next adventure is calling! River experts from Willamette Riverkeeper will take you on virtual tour of the Willamette River highlighting some of its unique water-accessible campgrounds and natural areas along our National Water Trail. The importance of clean water and recreation along the Willamette and its tributaries will also be highlighted. Presentation will include packing-lists, gear & shuttle information, river etiquette & safety, and itinerary inspiration. Willamette Water Trail Guides & Willamette River Field Guide will be available for purchase.

Preparing Your Pesticide-Free Yard

Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides (NCAP) is dedicated to promoting healthy solutions to pest problems and encouraging best practices for yard and home maintenance that do not rely on harmful chemicals. In this presentation, learn about the adverse health and environmental impacts of many pesticides commonly used in homes, gardens, and schools. Plus, find healthy alternatives to many pest problems.

Reduce Toxics in Your School

Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides was instrumental in establishing a statewide Integrated Pest Management (IPM) policy for all Oregon schools. Improving indoor air quality by reducing toxins in the school has been shown to improve student performance. Learn how to grade your neighborhood school on their enforcement of the new IPM state law.

Pollution in People

What is pollution doing in our bodies and what are the associated health costs? This presentation focuses on the latest scientific research linking exposures to chemicals found in everyday consumer products with an increasing number of health problems. Oregon Environmental Council also provides practical advice for lowering your risk of exposure to chemicals on a daily and on-going basis.

Clean Water for Salmon

Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides (NCAP) promotes salmon-friendly practices that reduce reliance on pesticides that harm Northwest salmon, contaminate water, and threaten human and environmental health. An NCAP representative will explain the adverse impacts of pesticide contamination, and the work they’re doing to promote pesticide-free practices.

How to Love Your River

We all live in a watershed, even if we don’t live next to a stream. You may not have thought of these simple tips you can take in your daily life to reduce your impact and be a river steward. Let Oregon Environmental Council show you how to love your river, even when you’re not on it.

Superfund 101

The Portland Harbor Superfund site is a highly contaminated stretch of the Willamette River that extends approximately 10 miles, from the Fremont Bridge to near the confluence with the Columbia River. Learn more about what’s at stake: our water, our wildlife, our health, and our economy. Willamette Riverkeeper’s Executive Director Travis Williams will share how you can help ensure our river is clean and healthy for future generations.

Climate Change and Water Supplies

Wetlands Conservancy Executive Director Esther Lev is one of our region’s top experts on water and protecting important wetlands for our wildlife and for the health of our lands. Climate change will likely affect the availability of water for both drinking and wetlands in our region; learn what potential changes are headed our way.

How You Can Help Fix Rivers

Streams, lakes and rivers make up only 0.3% of the water on Earth, and yet we depend on this crucial resource. 68% of Oregon’s rivers already don’t fully support aquatic life, drinking water and other uses. The Freshwater Trust can show you simple steps you can take to protect our freshwater resource.